Firstgens.com

Hey guys, I picked up this motor from a guy sight unseen about 2 weeks ago. He was selling it as a shortblock with lots of goodies inside....Callies crank, Carillo rods, Wiseco forged pistons....all that stuff. Anyway, while I was pulling it apart, I happened to notice the number stamp (front pass side) had a "DZ" code on it. But I knew it was 3970010 cast block. I honestly didn't think they cast that number block as early as 69, so I did a little research and found the casting number's first year was in fact 69. So I looked up the stamp number... "V1114DZ". Shows to be:
V = Flint engine plant
11 = November
14 = 14th day (Friday)
DZ = 68 late production or 69 Z28 4sp m/t, 4 bolt, 290hp

This is where I get confused....I didn't find that the 3970010 block was cast in 68.

Am I decoding this correctly? What do I have here?

BTW, the block had been decked, but it was re-stamped along with the machine shop info. Here are a few pics......

Thanks,

~Joe

Since it is restamped I wouldn't take the numbers to seriously.

The casting should have datecodes from the date it was casted. It should start with a letter for the month and followed by two digits for the date.

http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#GM ... lDateCodes


Jan

I agree. What is the cast date of the block? No 010 blocks cast in 1968.

Remember that Chevrolet run production on into Nov. '69 so it is possible this is a '69 block. Do you have the partial VIN to help sort it out? And I might add I wouldn't put too much faith in the stamp either but the VIN could help date it.

The block has obviously been decked, so the stampings on it are of no use. Look down on the bellhousing flange near the oil filter for a partial VIN stamp. We'll be able to tell what car it origianlly came out of at least. Like Jan said, find the casting date as well.